Mirka Mora service to honour a 'bold, brave and colourful' life

Mirka Mora will be honoured with a state memorial. Credit:Martin Jones

The State Memorial for much loved artist Mirka Mora will be a celebration rather than a formal occasion, say organisers.

Julia Zemiro will host the public service at the Palais Theatre, billed as "a celebration of Mirka's bold, brave and colourful life" on September 25 at 2pm and Kate Ceberano is tipped to sing.

The death of Mora on August 27, aged 90, prompted thousands of tributes from Victorians who hailed her as a woman who had transformed Melbourne with her wit, creativity and warmth.

A Government notice said the Palais, which holds nearly 3000 people was ‘‘a short stroll from Mirka Lane – named in honour of the artist – and Tolarno, the restaurant opened by Mirka and her husband Georges and home to one of Mirka’s treasured murals’’.

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Mora’s close friend, former Port Phillip councillor Serge Thomann, who is helping organise the event, said: "We want people to remember Mirka for the lively joyful beautiful human being she was and we want to share it."

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"A lot of people maybe didn't know her but still loved her because they'd seen her mural or mosaics or one of her paintings. She's touched so many people that when she died, it affected a lot of people."

The service would be ''a celebration instead of doing something a bit more posh'', Mr Thomann said.

Mr Thomann said Mora’s family and friends didn’t want it to be too sombre. ''We want people to remember Mora for the lively joyful beautiful human being she was and we want to share it."

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and are not required to register.